ORANGE, Calif. - Clinging to a three-run lead with the
bases loaded and nobody out in the sixth inning, the Chapman
University bullpen slammed the door and allowed just one base
runner the rest of the game as the Panthers defeated visiting
Bridgewater College (Va.) 10-6 in Division III baseball action at
Hart Park on Tuesday afternoon.
Chapman (13-5) ran its winning streak to seven in a row at Hart
Park.
Panthers' freshman LHP Roarke Anderson entered
the game with the bases loaded and nobody out and the Panthers
leading 8-5. The first batter the rookie faced hit a sacrifice fly
to cut the deficit to two, but the Chapman defense turned it into a
double play nailing the Eagles' runner trying to advance from first
to second on the flyout. A groundout later Bridgewater (6-8) was
turned away without further damage.
Senior RHP Matt Irsfeld took over from there.
The righty retired the final nine Bridgewater batters in order,
including six consecutive strikeouts. He finished with seven Ks in
the three innings for his first save of the year.
Offensively, Chapman built a 5-0 lead thanks in part to a
three-run second inning. In the inning, sophomore C Adam
Kordich had an RBI single and came around to score on an
RBI infield single by freshman DH Eric Robbins.
The Panthers added single runs in the third and fourth innings.
However, Bridgewater rallied for four runs in the fifth off
Chapman starter Matt Luzar. The Eagles got a
bases-loaded two-run single from OF Michael Lenox
to highlight the rally. Luzar escaped with the lead and pitched
into the sixth for his first victory of the season, improving to
1-1.
Chapman answered right back in the bottom of the fifth with four
runs of its own. Junior OF Ryan Prechtl led off
the inning with a solo home run - his third of the year. The
Panthers then got an RBI single from senior IF Tristan
Phillips and a two-run single from sophomore IF
Tyler Hadzinsky to pad the lead. Prechtl and
Phillips each had three hits apiece to lead Chapman.
